St Lucia's warm winter weather and inviting luxury resorts make it an inviting Caribbean babymoon destination. On a final child-free holiday, expectant mother Caroline Gammell puts it to the test.

The last trip before your baby is born is one you really want to get right. It is – as everyone delights in telling you –the last time you will sleep, enjoy adult conversation and do exactly what you want. So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that my husband and I booked our final holiday before being propelled into the unknown world of parenthood.

Being six months pregnant does pose certain restrictions on where you might like to go. The advice – and there is lots of it – initially appears bah humbug, seemingly deleting all the exotic destinations from your list. Stay away from malarial areas, which rules out much of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and don’t travel too far for fear of dehydration and discomfort on the flight.

Avoiding mosquitoes makes perfect sense, but I struggled with the idea of staying close to home, particularly after the midwife gave the go ahead. As long as you drink plenty of water, regularly stroll the aisles and add the precaution of long socks to curb DVT, there shouldn’t be any reason why a flight of nine or 10 hours is not possible.

For us, travelling early in the year, there was really only one suitably luxurious destination that appealed: the Caribbean. And St Lucia, with its distinctive Piton mountains, lush vegetation and the promise of good food and fine beaches was our island of choice. We initially stayed at Calabash Cove, a small hotel tucked on the hillside in the north west of the island. The sweeping view from its open air lobby, overlooking the ocean, was an excellent start.

Staying in one of the spacious junior suites, we had a large double bed, adjoining bathroom, large balcony and again that view. There were two other choices of room: four “swim-up suites” which led out directly to the main infinity swimming pool and separate villas with their own plunge pools. We were, however, assured by others that these pools were a little chilly and that we were better off lolling around in the main pool and on the beach.

Normally on such a holiday, my other half and I would tuck into beer, rum or wine, but this time I had to content myself with virgin cocktails. I never got tired of the alcohol-free lime daiquiris though, which were sensational. The staff at Calabash were charming, with an initially unnerving knack of remembering our names, while taking care not to fuss over us.

Despite being tempted to do very little, we hired a car for three days which gave us time to explore. St Lucia – at just 27 miles long – is small enough to see in a day or two of pottering around the more remote eastern side and the better known south west coast, which includes the Pitons. We stayed at Calabash full board – not something we usually do – and were not disappointed by the menu, with succulent fish and a truly fabulous lobster risotto. (Well, a little seafood is ok I am told and the bump doesn’t seem to have suffered).

Before long, it was time to move on – to Jade Mountain, a hotel built into the hillside on the south west of the island. It is hard, in words, to do justice to the breathtaking view you get from your room as you first walk in. For a start, there is no fourth wall. Every room – or sanctuary - looks out to sea towards the Pitons and is completely open to the elements. With no air conditioning, it should be hot and stuffy – but with the onshore breeze rolling up and over that isn't a concern. Everything is open plan – on one side lies the four-poster bed draped in a mosquito net; on the other, up a couple of steps, is the bathroom. The view from the loo is, well, remarkable.

Before you think it seems a little too open, the layout is cleverly designed with pillars in all the right places and water spilling over from the infinity pool is the only soundtrack you hear. Rolling over in bed each morning, your eyes are greeted by the Gros and Petit Pitons soaring up in front of you. The view is the same from the restaurant, which again is all open plan. If there was one criticism it would be the lack of variation in the menu. Although the food was delicious – particularly the chocolate fondant - it did not change enough throughout the week for our fellow guests.

Part of the attraction of being pregnant is that you never need feel guilty about visiting the spa, as relaxing is good for the baby. At Jade, you can have your massage in your room, which, of course, we had to try; we were wonderfully pampered and prodded. As at Calabash, the staff were charming and genuinely thrilled about the boy or girl I was heaving about.

Such is the unusual layout of the property that the hotel relies on a large number of steps to get from the rooms to the beach. Determined to be active, I didn’t find them difficult but there was always transport on hand if it seemed too much effort. Jade Mountain takes every advantage of its unique position, perfectly angled out to sea and overlooking St Lucia’s famous craggy skyline. Its roof terrace also doubled up as an early morning spot to do yoga.

Being one of the least flexible people I know, as well as being six months pregnant, I was a little concerned about how useless I would be. But at 7am each morning, I stumbled – hangover free – up to the terrace to indulge in a little stretching. It was glorious, with the sun coming up, the birds chirping and a gentle breeze. As part of birth preparation, you are told to imagine a special place where you can travel to in your mind as you go through labour. A place where you feel calm, secure and content. I know where I’ll be going when the time comes.

Read our expert guide to St Lucia, with further info on its best attractions, beaches, restaurants and nightlife, here.

British Airways offers seven nights in a Sky Jacuzzi Suite at Jade Mountain in St Lucia from £3,171 per person based on two people sharing, for travel in February. The price includes return British Airways flights from London Gatwick and accommodation (ba.com/stlucia).